CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE & AGENDA
FEBRUARY 11, 2025
Meeting Time: 9:00 a.m.
Meeting Location: Hofert Hall, Big Bear Lake Civic Center, 39707 Big Bear Boulevard, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
COUNCILMEMBERS
MAYOR PERRI MELNICK
MAYOR PRO TEM KENDI SEGOVIA
COUNCILMEMBER RICK HERRICK
COUNCILMEMBER CHARLES HICKS, JR.
COUNCILMEMBER RANDALL PUTZ
CITY STAFF
CITY MANAGER ERIK SUND
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER/CITY CLERK ERICA STEPHENSON
CITY ATTORNEY STEPHEN DEITSCH
__________________________________________________________________________________________
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
NOTICE & AGENDA
To:
Mayor Perri Melnick
Mayor Pro Tem Kendi Segovia
Councilmember Rick Herrick
Councilmember Charles Hicks, Jr.
Councilmember Randall Putz
City Manager
City Attorney
Division Managers
Local Media
NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the City Council will conduct a Special Meeting on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., at 39707 Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315; said meeting is being called pursuant to Section 54956 of the Government Code of the State of California for the purpose of considering the following matter:
AGENDA
OPEN SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
FEBRUARY 11, 2025 – Page 2
ROLL CALL
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS NOTICE
If members of the public cannot attend the meeting, the City encourages the public to submit written public communications about any item on this special meeting agenda, to the City Clerk either in person, via mail or by email at [email protected]. Please identify the Agenda item in the header of your letter or the subject line of your email. All written communications received by the City Clerk prior to the meeting will be distributed to the City Council prior to the start of the meeting, however, the public is encouraged to submit comments by 5:00 pm the evening prior to the meeting to ensure adequate time for City Council review and consideration.
Public comment is permitted only on items included on the posted special meeting agenda and the public comment period will be held prior to City Council’s deliberation of each item. Please note that there is a three-minute maximum time limit when addressing City Council during that time period. The time limit is subject to adjustment at the discretion of the Presiding Officer. Speakers are limited to their individual maximum time limit and other members of the public cannot cede their speaking time to another person.
1. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEM
1.1 WATER MATTERS RELATED TO THE CITY OF BIG BEAR LAKE
Staff’s recommendation: Receive a presentation from City Staff and representatives from Bear Valley Mutual Water Company and the City of Big Bear Lake, Department of Water & Power, regarding water history, the Big Bear Lake water system, and local water sustainability, then engage in related discussion and provide direction to staff as appropriate.
ADJOURNMENT
I hereby certify under penalty of perjury, under the laws of the State of California, that the foregoing agenda was posted in accordance with the applicable legal requirements. Dated this 4 th day of February, 2025.
_______________________
Erica Stephenson, City Clerk
The City of Big Bear Lake wishes to make all of its public meetings accessible to the public. If you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (909) 866-5831. When possible, notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
Item 1.1
Please note: A Staff presentation will be provided during the meeting.
Attached Document: (1) Water Matters Related to the City of Big Bear Lake PowerPoint Presentation
City Council
Special Meeting Agenda
City Council Meeting – February 11, 2025
Water Matters Overview
Sean Sullivan, Assistant City Manager
WATER MATTERS
RELATED TO
THE CITY OF BIG BEAR LAKE
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
OVERVIEW
• This special meeting will focus on several water matters that are related to the City of Big Bear Lake
• History of Big Bear Lake and Overview of the Water
• City of Big Bear Lake, Department of Water & Power
• Wastewater Management
• Ground Water Sustainability Project
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
PRESENTERS
• History of Big Bear Lake and Overview of the Water
• Bear Valley Mutual Water Company
• George Hanson, General Manager
• Sam Fuller, Special Consultant & Watermaster Appointee • City of Big Bear Lake Department of Water & Power
• Reggie Lamson, General Manager
• Waste Water Management & Groundwater Sustainability Project • Sean Sullivan, Assistant City Manager
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
BEAR VALLEY MUTUAL WATER COMPANY
George Hanson
General Manager
Sam Fuller
Consultant
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
BEAR VALLEY MUTUAL WATER COMPANY
• Bear Valley Mutual Water Company was
incorporated in 1903 to supply Agricultural water
to its shareholders in the San Bernardino Valley
• Its Predecessor Company constructed the original
dam to create Big Bear Lake in 1884
• BVMWCo constructed the existing dam in 1912
and operated the Lake as a supplemental supply
of water for its shareholders
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
BEAR VALLEY MUTUAL WATER COMPANY
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
BVMWCo – FACTS AND FIGURES
• BVMWCo is a Mutual Water Company
• BVMWCo has no significant income and pays no dividends • BVMWCo Operates on annual assessments from shareholders • BVMWCo was created to deliver non-potable/agricultural water • The sources of water for BVMWCo are
• Santa Ana River
• Mill Creek
• Groundwater
• State Water Project
• Big Bear Lake
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
BVMWCo – FACTS AND FIGURES
• How much water do we deliver?
• Existing delivery rate is 0.27 Miners Inch Day/Share
• 1 Miners Inch = 9 gallons per minute
• 1 share yields approx. 3,490 gallons/month
• How much does the water cost?
• Current assessments are $5.75/share
• Delivery charge of $1.00 / Miners Inch Day delivered
• Overall cost equates to $75-85 / acre foot
• One (1) acre foot of water is approximately 326,000 gal • About 1 foot of water covering a football field
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
BVMWCo – FACTS AND FIGURES
• Bear Valley Mutual Water Company has issued 250,377 shares • The City of Big Bear Lake owns 50 shares
• City owned shares would be equal to 0.54 acre feet per month • Bear Valley Mutual Water Company has a long-standing policy of not allowing water deliveries upstream of Mentone Reservoir, meaning that the City cannot accept delivery of water pursuant to these shares at Big Bear Lake
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
BIG BEAR – STATE WATER PROJECT ALLOCATION
• The Big Bear Valley had a State Water Project Allocation of 4,600-acre feet annually
• When the allocation was assigned, an entity did not exist to contract for the delivery of the allocation of the water.
• There was no physical means to convey the State Water Project water to Big Bear Lake
• San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District agreed to acquire the 4,600-acre feet allocation
• If the Big Bear Valley had acquired the allocation, the 1977 Judgement and 1996 Agreement may have been greatly simplified
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
BVMWCo – HISTORY OF BIG BEAR LAKE
• Big Bear Lake was created as a supplemental supply of non-potable water for Shareholders of BVMWCO
• During dry years, the Lake was drawn down to meet demand • Numerous times, the Lake was essentially empty until the next wet year put more water in the Lake
• Since the Dam was constructed and the Lake formed, a recreation and resort community grew in the Bear Valley – Leading to Conflict • The Bear Valley Community organized the Big Bear Municipal Water District in 1964
• A lawsuit was filed to condemn & take possession of the Lake & Dam City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
BVMWCo – HISTORY OF BIG BEAR LAKE
• Litigation was settled in 1977
• Big Bear Municipal Water District (BBMWD) took possession of the Lake and Dam
• Water Rights were maintained by Bear Valley with limitations • Bear Valley was provided with 65,000 AF during any 10-year period • When called upon, BBMWD would make releases from the Lake to supplement Bear Valley’s other sources of water
• In 1996, BBMWD and San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District entered into an agreement that would provide State Water Project delivery to Bear Valley in lieu of releasing water from the Lake City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
1977 Stipulated Judgement :
1977 Stipulated Judgement – BBMWD vs. North Fork Water Company, et al. • Big Bear Municipal Water District owns:
• Eastwood Dam, the multiple arch dam now called Big Bear Dam • Responsibility to maintain the Dam
• Land underlying Big Bear Lake to the High-Water Line
• The opportunity to provide a recreation operation
• The right to provide “in-lieu” water – instead of delivering water from Lake • The opportunity to import water and reclaim water
• The opportunity to store water in any unused capacity in Big Bear Lake • Bear Valley Mutual Water Company owns:
• The natural inflow to Big Bear Lake
• 65,000-acre feet of water from the Lake over any 10-year period City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
1977 Stipulated Judgement
1977 Stipulated Judgement – BBMWD vs. North Fork Water Company, et al. • The judgement and settlement created the Big Bear Watermaster • This is an entity created to monitor compliance with the Judgement • The Big Bear Watermaster Committee
• Donald E. Evenson – Big Bear Municipal Water District (Mike Stephenson) • Katelyn A. Scholte – San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District • Samuel H. Fuller – Bear Valley Mutual Water Company
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD
• 1995 California Trout complains to State Water Resources Control Board that operation of Big Bear Lake pursuant to the 1977 Judgment diminishes the flows of water in Bear Creek to the detriment of the fisheries in Bear Creek • State Water Resources Control Board held public hearings and in 1995, the Board adopted Order No. 95-4
• This order requires that water be released from Big Bear Lake to maintain certain environmentally necessary flows in Bear Creek (downstream of Lake) • Big Bear Municipal Water District was able to secure the cooperation of Bear Valley Mutual Water Co. to share in the impact of this required release of water from Big Bear Lake into Bear Creek
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
1996 AGREEMENT
• San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District was concerned that the operations of Bear Valley Mutual Water Company in compliance with the 1977 Judgment depleted water resources that were incorporated as part of the 1969 Judgment for Western Municipal Water District et al. v. East San Bernardino County Water District et al.
• San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District would supply all in lieu water to Bear Valley Mutual Water Company
• Big Bear Municipal Water District would pay an annual fee to San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District
• 1999 Agreement & 2012 Agreement
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
IMPACT OF IN LIEU WATER
• The 1977 Judgement allowed Bear Valley Mutual to receive in lieu water as an alternative to delivery of Lake water
Calendar Year 2018 Impact
Gage Height Storage Volume Water Surface
Feet Acre Feet Acres
Full Lake Water Level 72.37 73,369 2,974
2018 Drawdown 18.22 45,127 1,074
2018 Actual Water Level 54.15 28,242 1,900
2018 Drawdown 17.85 23,965 1,303
BVMWC Water Level 36.30 4,280 597
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
BIG BEAR LAKE DEPARTMENT OF WATER & POWER
Reggie Lamson
General Manager
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
FORMATION OF DWP
• Prior to 1989, Water and Electric utilities were provided to approximately 2/3’s of the Bear Valley by Southern California Water Company (SCWC) • Including the entire area within the City Limits
• Negotiations related to the purchase of the water and electric systems owned by SCWC began in 1985
• The City of Big Bear Lake completed the condemnation of the SCWC Big Bear Water System on June 2,1989.
• The Name, City of Big Bear Lake, Department of Water & Power, was established during the negotiations that commenced in 1985. • At the completion of negotiations, only the water system was purchased • This was the name utilized on all legal documents, so it was kept City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
FORMATION OF DWP
• The existing water system, owned by SCWC, was condemned because • The distribution system had extensive leaks
• There were frequent water outages, especially during busy periods • There was a building moratorium in place, issued by the State Department of Health services, until the system was improved. • The City formed the DWP to operate, upgrade, and maintain the newly acquired water system.
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
DWP SERVICE AREA
• DWP serves 16,000 customers (Approx 2/3’s of the Valley) • Approximately 37% of our customers are outside the City Limits • DWP Serves:
• The City of Big Bear Lake, including the County area in Moonridge • Fawnskin
• Big Bear Shores RV Park
• The West Section of Whispering Forest & the Northern Section of Erwin Lake • Sugarloaf
• Lake Williams
• Big Bear City CSD serves the remaining portions of the East End of the Valley (Approx 1/3 of the Valley)
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
DWP SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
• Since June of 1989, DWP has constructed over $100 million in system improvements and additions. The DWP system includes:
• 190 miles of pipelines
• 55 Well Facilities with a total capacity of 5,565 GPM • 12 Booster pumping facilities with total capacity of 9,700 GPM • 15 Steel Water Tanks with a total capacity of 10,130,000 gallons • 7 Backup electric generators to power the well & booster pumping plants. DWP will purchase four additional generators, over the next 3-years, which will allow us to maintain full operations during extended power outages.
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
DWP SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
• Over the last 13-years, DWP has constructed over $58 million in system improvements, including:
• 20.4-miles of pipeline replacements & additions
• Eight new well pumping plants with a total capacity of 2,250 GPM • Two booster pumping plants with a total capacity of 2,000 GPM • Two steel water tanks with a total capacity of 1,600,000 gallons • Replaced 16,000 manual read meters with AMI radio read meters • The DWP system complies with all Federal and State regulations • The last building moratorium, Lake Williams, was removed in 2016, because of the extensive & successful system improvements City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
DWP – GROUNDWATER SUPPLY
• DWP’s water supply is 100% groundwater.
• The groundwater aquifers are replenished when rain or snow percolates through the soil, down to the aquifers.
• The Bear Valley Basin has eleven (11) sub-basins.
• None of the sub-basins are currently being over-drafted. • The closest location to access imported State Water Project Water is the Mojave Water Agency’s (MWA) Morongo Pipeline, which crosses Camp Rock Road, near Highway 247.
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
DWP – GROUNDWATER SUPPLY
• If the DWP wanted to access imported water, it would be a lengthy and expensive process.
• A 2017 estimate indicated the cost at over $100 Million • The process would require:
• Negotiating with Mojave Water Agency to add the Bear Valley Basin to their service area. • Construct pipelines and lift stations to lift untreated surface water to the Big Bear Valley – 18 miles of pipeline, 4,000 vertical feet of lift
• Construct a surface water treatment plant in the Baldwin Lake area • Construct a pipeline from the new plant to near Erwin Lake to connect to DWP System City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
DWP WATER SUPPLY HISTORY – BVBGSA
• The State Legislature passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in 2014.
• The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is the State agency is implementing SGMA.
• SGMA prioritized all groundwater basins in California. • Basins were classified as Very Low, Low, Medium, or High Priority based on the basin condition / health
• Groundwater basins that were prioritized as High or Medium were required to form a Groundwater Sustainability Agency prior to July 1, 2017.
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
DWP WATER SUPPLY HISTORY – BVBGSA
• The Bear Valley Basin was prioritized as Medium
• The Bear Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (BVBGSA) was formed in May 2017 and included:
• City of Big Bear Lake, Department of Water and Power
• Big Bear City Community Services District
• Big Bear Municipal Water District
• Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency (BBARWA) joined in October 2019 • January of 2019, the Bear Valley Basin was reprioritized to Very Low.
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
DWP WATER SUPPLY HISTORY – BVBGSA
• The BVBGSA prepared a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP), which monitors DWP’s and CSD’s well water levels.
• The well water level information is updated annually, for the Department of Water Resources to analyze the management and health of the Basin • The GSP also list future groundwater supply projects so that DWR can determine if the Bear Valley Basin has a sustainable water supply.
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
Sean Sullivan
Assistant City Manager
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
OVERVIEW
• Historic Background of Wastewater Management
• Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency • History
• Structure
• Purpose
• BBARWA Groundwater Sustainability Project • Background • Project Overview
• Approval Process
• Current Status
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
• The City of Big Bear Lake has operated a sanitary sewer collection system since its incorporation in 1980
• Wastewater is collected by the City’s system and transmitted to the regional treatment system • Wastewater treatment is operated by the Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency (BBARWA) which was established in 1974. • Prior to BBARWA, wastewater treatment was not what it is today • Wastewater from Big Bear Lake was deposited into settling ponds near Big Bear Lake • Wastewater from other parts of the valley was deposited into Baker Pond City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
• Prior to the City of Big Bear Lake incorporation in 1980, the County of San Bernardino operated the Big Bear Lake Sanitation District, similar to other County Special Districts
• This district was under the purview of the County Board of Supervisors and provided for wastewater collection and disposal in the area now known as Big Bear Lake.
• When the City incorporated in 1980, the sewer collection assets of the previous Sanitation District were transferred to the City.
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
• The City’s Sanitary Sewer Collection System includes
• Approximately 130 Miles of Pipeline
• Pipeline includes both gravity main and force main
• 12 sewer lift (pump) stations
• More than 3,000 manholes
• The system is managed by the Public Works Department
• There is staff on-call 24 hours per day
• All collected wastewater is conveyed to BBARWA for treatment City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
BBARWA
• The Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency was established as a Joint Powers Authority in 1974
• A Joint Powers Authority is permitted under California Law whereby two or more public agencies may jointly exercise any power common to all agencies, such as Fire Protection, Public Transportation, and Wastewater Management
• BBARWA, when established, was comprised of the Big Bear Lake Sanitation District, Big Bear City Community Services District, and the County of San Bernardino Service Area 53B.
• After the City’s incorporation, an amendment to the JPA was adopted in 1982 replacing the Big Bear Lake Sanitation District with the City of Big Bear Lake
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
BBARWA
• BBARWA has a five-member Board of Directors with the following allocation • Two (2) Members of the Board from the Big Bear City CSD • Two (2) Members of the Big Bear Lake City Council
• One (1) Representative from the County Service Area
• The division of the total wastewater managed by BBARWA is as follows • City of Big Bear Lake 52.40%
• Big Bear City CSD 44.08%
• County Service Area 53B 3.52% • Based upon a 3-year rolling average of water discharged to BBARWA City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
BBARWA
• BBARWA is funded through a sewer user fee assessed to all parcels within the Valley that are connected to a sewer system • The rates are adopted, annually, by the governing board and forwarded to the three member agencies.
• The member agencies then collect the parcel fees from the rate payers and remit it to BBARWA
• The fees are subject to Proposition 218
• The BBARWA fee is in addition to the fee levied by the respective agencies for wastewater collection
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
BBARWA RATES
• In May 2023, BBARWA issued updated rates, based upon a five (5) year rate study, to all member agencies.
• On June 29, 2023, the City Council adopted the below rate schedule through Fiscal Year 2027-28, subject to the parameters of Proposition 218.
Fiscal Year Maximum BBARWA Treatment Rate
Per Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU)
FY 2023-24 $311.83
FY 2024-25 $365.77
FY 2025-26 $431.35
FY 2026-27 $509.03
FY 2027-28 $601.20
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESS
• The Wastewater is treated through a secondary wastewater treatment process which separates the solids, treats the remaining effluent, and the resulting water is disposed of.
• The resulting water is cleaned up; however, not to a drinking water standard • The resulting water is conveyed through approximately 17 miles of pipeline to a land holding in Lucerne Valley of about 600 acres that are owned by BBARWA • The water is infiltrated back into the ground
• There is an existing lease with a family farm that will grow alfalfa when conditions allow for it.
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
BENEFICIAL REUSE OF WATER
• Since the establishment of BBARWA, the Big Bear Valley has released more than 35 Billion gallons of the resulting water to Lucerne Valley
• No beneficial reuse of this water for the community, economy, or water sustainability
• BBARWA has developed studies focused on the recovery of this water for beneficial uses.
• Through this program, BBARWA is working toward putting the program water into Big Bear Lake. From there, the DWP and CSD can access that water to support their groundwater sustainability efforts.
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM
• In 2016, Recycled Water Facilities Planning Study for the Bear Valley Water Sustainability Project
• 2018 – Lake Alternative Evaluation Report
• June 2018 – BBARWA Board Appropriates $1,000,000 for Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Work Related to the Study • 2019 – Regulatory review initiated to determine if a project of this nature would be permitted by the Regional Water Quality Control Board • 2021 – Preliminary / conceptual design of the project underway • 2022 – Preliminary environmental work commences
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
WHAT THE PROGRAM WILL DO
• Secondary wastewater treatment process will continue as usual. This waste stream will be enhanced through the AWPF.
• Resulting water to be treated through Advanced Water Purification Facility • Nutrient Removal, Ultra Filtration, Reverse Osmosis, UV Disinfection • This water would be treated above drinking water standards • Program water will meet all requirements for discharge into Big Bear Lake • This process is estimated to produce:
• 2,000,000 gallons per day
• 2,200-acre feet (approx. 720,000,000 gallons) annually • Pilot Study demonstrated about 98.7% water recovery
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
RESULTING PROGRAM WATER
What would be done with this water that is created through the Program? • Groundwater Recharge – Responsibility of DWP / CSD
• Sand Canyon Recharge Basin – 380-acre feet / year
• Future Option - Shay Pond / Stickleback Fish – 30-acre feet / year • Golf Course Irrigation Offset – DWP working with BBMR • Would use 120-acre feet of program water in lieu of groundwater • Remaining 1,500-acre feet would be stored in Big Bear Lake • Big Bear Lake is a reservoir
• Saves cost of building additional water storage facilities City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
RESULTING PROGRAM WATER
What would be done with this water that is created through the Program? • The water would be stored in Big Bear Lake as its primary purpose is a water storage reservoir
• The water can be used to support the habitat and recreational purposes • The water would be available for additional basin recharge by either the Big Bear Lake DWP or Big Bear City CSD
• Each respective agency would be responsible for constructing the infrastructure to move the program water to the appropriate recharge basin
• Sand Canyon/Shay Pond were identified due to available infrastructure City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
WHAT THE PROGRAM WATER WILL NOT DO
This water will not be directly distributed into the
existing drinking water system
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
DESIGN & ENVIRONMENTAL
• Preliminary design for this project has been completed • There will be additional work required to complete the Final Design based upon findings of the pilot study
• A Programmatic EIR was developed
• Programmatic EIR –looks at the broad policy of a planning document and may not address potential site-specific impacts of the individual projects that may fall within the greater program, documents. Allows for adjustment once project specific details are finalized • Project Specific EIR – focuses on specific project related impacts. May allow for project alternatives; however, is generally final based upon specific project • The EIR Covers this project on a project level basis but looks at the entirety of the Program on a Programmatic basis.
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
APPROVAL PROCESS
• As this project is being undertaken by BBARWA, they are the approval body for this project. BBARWA will approve:
• Project costs and the associated sewer user fees
• Program Environmental Document (Environmental Impact Report pursuant to CEQA) • Project contracts
• Annual BBARWA Rates
• The BBARWA rates will be approved, via a Proposition 218 Process conducted by each member agency, to collect the costs from their rate payers
• BBARWA has passed on rates to the member agencies that include the costs associated with Replenish Big Bear since the Fiscal Year 2022-23.
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
APPROVAL PROCESS continued
• Adoption of Pass-Through Rates by Member Agencies
• These rate adoptions reflect the standard BBARWA Fees as well as the fees associated with Replenish Big Bear
• City of Big Bear Lake
• June 29, 2023 – BBL City Council adopts 5-year BBARWA rate schedule; 4-1 Vote • June 12, 2024 – BBL City Council approves collection of previously Adopted fees; 4-0 Vote • Big Bear Lake Community Services District
• May 15, 2023 – BBCCSD Board approved adopted rates for FY 2023-24; 5-0 Vote • May 20, 2024 – BBCCSD Board approved adopted rates for FY 2024-25; 5-0 Vote City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
APPROVAL PROCESS continued
• Amended Joint Powers Agreement and Operating Agreement • As a requirement to apply for a WIFIA Loan, which is a key element of the Program funding plan, the member agencies must approve an Amendment to the Joint Powers Agreement. • The amendment would demonstrate all member agencies consenting to BBARWA taking on the debt associated with this loan.
• Big Bear Lake City Council
• February 14, 2024 – Adopted Amended JPA; 4-0 vote
• Big Bear City Community Services District
• February 20, 2024 – Board continues item to March 4, 2024 meeting; 4-1 Vote • March 4, 2024 – Board votes against approving Amendment; 5-0 Vote • The County has not taken this item up but indicated that it would take it for approval once approved by the City and the CSD
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
• BBARWA, with the coordination of partner agencies, coordinated the preparation of a Programmatic EIR for the Replenish Big Bear Project • A Notice of Availability was published December 21, 2023 • 45-day public comment period - through February 20, 2024 • Presented for adoption to the BBARWA Board on May 22, 2024 • BBARWA Board Voted 4-1 to continue the EIR to a future meeting. • Brought back for adoption to the BBARWA Board on July 24, 2024, and was continued to a Special Meeting on August 12, 2024.
• August 12, 2024, the BBARWA Board voted 3-2 against certifying the EIR City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
STATUS OF PROJECT
• Without an approved Environmental Impact Report, the Replenish Big Bear Program and the Associated Projects cannot move forward. • The BBARWA board met on December 3, 2024, to consider options related to winding down the project:
• Unwind the Replenish Big Bear Program
• Evaluate Potential Program Scope Reductions
• Update Project Financing Plan for Governing Board Consideration • The BBARWA Board differed a decision on these options to the January Meeting. • On January 22, 2025, the BBARWA Board voted 3-1 to revisit Certification of the EIR at the February 2025 Meeting.
City of Big Bear Lake | Public Works Department
Thank you:
City Council
Bear Valley Mutual Water Company
Big Bear Lake, Department of Water & Power
BBARWA Staff